I needed to take the time to write you and thank you for your continued support regarding the irresponsible journalism and extremely poor decision the Journal News made in making public the interactive map
of pistol permits holders in Rockland County.
Dear RC Times Editor, I needed to take the time to write you and thank you for your continued support regarding the irresponsible journalism and extremely poor decision the Journal News made in making public the interactive
map of pistol permits holders in Rockland County.
The Journal News caused an international stir when they released an interactive map
of pistol permit holders names and addresses in Rockland and Westchester counties last Sunday, December 23.
Last week the Rockland County Times revealed that the Journal News filed new FOILs with the County Clerk offices in Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties, requesting a
list of all pistol permit holders who did not opt to make their records private.
[Update 1/2/13 — Putnam County officials have since announced their intention to not comply with the Journal News» request for the names and addresses of pistol permit holders]
WHEREAS, while there are some areas of the legislation that the Cortland County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc. finds encouraging the strengthening of Kendra's law and Mark's law, as well as privacy protections for
certain of pistol permit holders, many other provision do little more than negatively impact lawful gun owners; and
In nearby Putnam County, Clerk Dennis Sant has refused the request by The Journal News to release the public
records of pistol permit holder, citing public safety concerns.
According to police reports on public record, Journal News Rockland Editor Caryn A. McBride was alarmed by the volume of «negative correspondence,» namely an avalanche of phone calls and emails to the Journal News office, following the newspaper's publishing of a
map of all pistol permit holders in Rockland and Westchester.
Erie County Legislator Joseph Lorigo sent a letter on Jan. 16, 2013 to Chairwoman Betty Jean Grant requesting that the Legislature hold a special session to act on his resolution that requests Erie County Clerk Christopher L. Jacobs withhold the names
of pistol permit holders in Erie County from public release until the New York State Judicial System thoroughly reviews and rules on freedom of information requests pertaining to gun permit holders.
Following the fallout from the Journal News» decision to publish the gun - map
of all pistol permit holders in Rockland and Westchester counties (Putnam did not comply with the request), New York State passed as part of the NY SAFE Act, a rule creating a temporary seal on all permit information and an opportunity for pistol permit holders to opt for privacy by a May 15 deadline.
He made the privacy push after public uproar over the White Plains - based newspaper's publication of an interactive map showing the addresses
of all pistol permit holders in Rockland and Westchester County.
That map indicates the names and addresses
of all pistol permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties, with Putnam County to come.